THE Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo, Abuja, has sustained the arrest warrant earlier issued against former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar Farouq, over alleged fraud involving $1.3 million and N746.7 million.
Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie ruled yesterday that the bench warrant issued against the former minister on April 16, 2026, would remain valid.
Farouq is standing trial alongside Bashir Nura Alkali and Sani Nafiu Mohammed in a case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCc) involving allegations of criminal conspiracy, abuse of office, and diversion of public funds.
During the resumed hearing, counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), informed the court that the matter was scheduled for arraignment, but noted that the former minister was absent without explanation.
Jacobs reminded the court that a bench warrant had earlier been issued against Farouq, adding that the second defendant later surrendered himself to the commission in compliance with the court’s directive.
He urged the court to vacate the warrant against the second defendant while maintaining the order against the former minister.
The EFCC counsel also recalled that Farouq’s lawyer, Oladipo Okpesheyi (SAN), had previously requested one month to produce his client before the court.
According to Jacobs, despite the court’s initial hesitation to grant a lengthy adjournment under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, the request was eventually accommodated.
Expressing dissatisfaction over Farouq’s continued absence, Jacobs told the court that he expected the defence to present the former minister as promised rather than seek another adjournment.
When asked to explain his client’s absence, Okpesheyi stated that Farouq was currently in Egypt receiving medical treatment.
He told the court that he received a medical report indicating that she was hospitalised and medically unfit to appear in court.
According to the defence counsel, doctors advised that the former minister would require approximately two months to recover before returning to Nigeria, prompting a request for adjournment.
Justice Onwuegbuzie, however, criticised what he described as repeated attempts to delay the proceedings.
The judge recalled that during the last sitting, another defence lawyer had assured the court that the first defendant would be produced.
He stated that the court would not tolerate unnecessary delays and insisted on only a short adjournment, warning that further action would be taken if the former minister failed to appear at the next hearing.
The judge subsequently ruled that the arrest warrant against Farouq would remain in effect and adjourned the case until June 8, 2026, for arraignment.
The EFCC had earlier declared the former minister wanted over allegations of criminal conspiracy, abuse of office, and diversion of public funds.
In a notice signed by the agency’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the commission urged anyone with information about Farouq’s whereabouts to contact any EFCC office or the nearest police station.
